Winter weather in Washington: How the Northwest Avalanche Center transformed forecasts

The Northwest Avalanche Center began publishing avalanche forecasts in 1975 and now issues daily forecasts informed by data from 52 weather stations. The article reports NWAC serves backcountry users and public agencies while facing ongoing funding and staffing uncertainty.

On winter mornings, the Northwest Avalanche Center’s 11-member team travels into the Cascades to observe snow, collect data and produce forecasts. By 6 p.m. each day NWAC issues avalanche forecasts covering terrain roughly the size of the Swiss Alps and its in-house meteorologists provide twice-daily mountain weather reports. The center began in 1975 when University of Washington researchers started publishing Washington’s first avalanche forecast and installing remote stations to supply hourly weather data. Today NWAC combines Forest Service-employed forecasters with a nonprofit that raises money for technology, outreach and station maintenance. Key facts: - Founded in December 1975 by University of Washington researchers who moved avalanche work toward systematic, data-driven forecasting. - NWAC’s team of 11 forecasters issues daily avalanche forecasts and maintains about 52 weather stations across the Cascades. - Forecasts and weather reports serve backcountry recreationists as well as agencies such as state transportation crews, national parks and ski patrols. - The combined annual budget for the forecasters and the supporting nonprofit is about $2.2 million, with funding historically coming from state and federal partners. - NWAC’s outreach includes hundreds of 90-minute awareness classes and other programs that the article says reach up to about 10,000 people each year. - Forecasters were recently classified as permanent seasonal employees, but the article reports recent morale and funding stresses after a partial federal shutdown and ongoing Forest Service restructuring. Summary: NWAC’s data collection and forecasting have become an established public resource used by recreationists and transportation and park agencies, and the center plays a long-running role in reducing avalanche risk through forecasts and education. The article notes NWAC has gained stability over time but continues to face budget and organizational uncertainty within federal and state funding structures. Undetermined at this time